Skimmer and Hair Algea part 3

[toy4x4]

Ok, I've waited a couple weeks and my skimmer looks to be making micro bubble but I ain't getting much(pic attached). I don't think it has yet to bubble over. Any ideas? I have a clown, skooter and a bunch of snails and crabs so with that little, maybe that's normal...

A also wanted to share my hair algea. Just thought others would enjoy the pic...

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like you have a CPR bakpak with the skimmer cup all the way down... it should overflowed very fast in that position if you are not careful, so I am sure there is some thing that you need to look inot... is it a new skimmer, BTW (looks brand new in the pic)?

You need to adjust the air intake (with a little valve) so that the bubble in the chamber is very, very fine. If you opened the valve all the way, the Rio will suck in lots of air, and make big bubble, but not very efficient for skimming. You know it is good when the chamber is full of bubble that you can't see thru it. So do the adjustment and see if it helps.

On the hair algae, it does not look that bad since it is kind of localized. I would strongly suggest that you remove them as much as possible right away before it spread too widely. It is starting to smothering one of the coral (polyps) in the pic ... do it before it is too late....

 

[smlacy]

Loule, sorry, wrong guess. Thats a AquaC Urchin, and it does look like its set very low ( the large O-ring around the cup )

It is collecting gunk (the brown stuff) just very few skimmate bubbles.

toy4x4: Have you tried cleaning the injector? (thats the small white screw top that you can see below the skimmer cup.) Maybe its clogged from some detritus or something.

Secondly, do you have the Rio or the Maxi Jet? (or is this a "Pro"?) If you're running the Rio, you should definately upgrade.

Thirdly, have you been cleaning the cup? There could have been something in there thats prohibiting foaming. At least once a week you should rinse it with hot water and wipe it clean with a paper towel or something.

Fourthly, have you been running it with the cover removed, as in the picture? I don't know how much this would affect performance, but you should leave the cover on when running.

Fifthly, have you tried setting the cup very high and see what happens? If its not collecting anything, as it is, that can't do any harm. Raise it almost all the way up and let it run for a couple days. That might be the solution.

Steve

 

[toy4x4]

I've moved this to the general reefkeeping forum(meant to put it there to start). Steve, I answered your questions there.

 

[Anonymous]

(You can ask the admin/mod to move the thread for you so you don't have to cut&paste everything, you know...)